Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-12-20
fAhkTeN S SCHOOLS.

~ Rishi&N y
The Primary Departments and Their
Many Exeellencres-Ihe First Round
Ofthe Educational ladder
The school board has made the
admirable system of school grades found
in the Yankton schools to begin with the
first primary. When the child has
reached the required age, seven years.
they begin with this grade. There are
Two of this grade of schools in the CITY.
enc located on the corner of Green and
sixth streets, in the Lincoln school
building, taught by Miss Esther A.
Clark, the other located on Pine street,
between Fifth and Sixth streets, in the
Webster school building, Taught by Miss
Clara s. Barker, assisted by Miss Grace
Hand, who elso a~ssiets the teacher in
chaige of the second primary, in the
same building, The first primary has
morning and afternoon sessions. The
pupils are only in attendance q halt day,
except that the "a" class, in Miss
Barker's school, attends all the day.
The afternoon session is the lowest grade
of the first primary. The new pupil be-
gins with the "O1 class OF this grade.
BY promotion the pupil is required to
pass through the "B" class, then the
ZAP class, and from this class the pupil
passes to the morning session, beginning
in the sc" class and rising by merit to
the "A' class, the highest, and then
graduating to the next higher grade,
the second primary. By actual count,
In Miss Clerk's school, when the writer
visited it. were found tfty-one pupils
promptly IN them seats and ready for
work ct the opening hour. But o single
tardy mark was given that morning to q
miss who appeared fifteen minutes late,
SO here comes the first lesson of punctu.
atty, which if well learned, will tell fol
good in every walk of life. The number
of boys is slightly greater than the girls
In both of these schools, both in the
morning and afternoon sessions. The
average age is about eight and o half OIL
nine years. The percentage of those
from families horn in foreign countries
over the children from American fam
lilies, in Miss CIark's school. Ia large
The proportion is thirty-four from
parents born in foreign countries t.
twenty-three from American families
The first noticeable fact war the talen
requisite to be a successful teacher il
one of these primary schools. 1t is
grave mistake to conclude that an.
noyitiate in the teachers art will answe
to instruct new beginners. No mistak,
works greater evil TO the progress OF TIL
child's development. IN ~incompeten
teacher in this department often time
clogs the wheels of progress, making it
influence felt for q life time. In thi
respect the board has been e%xoeedingl.
fortunate in securing such teachers @
the primary schools as understan,
their business and show an aptitude t
teach. The eye and c~ountenance of tn
teacher is no uncomfortable factor il
the education of this class of beginners
The unconscious Influence OF the teache
is a power in the school room. w
noticed the continual going forth c
. telegraphic dispatches from the eye an
~countenance off teacher TO the pupil
and these unerring bulletins we're ant
wered back by the CHEEKY c~ountenance
of the children. Not in o single instanc
did we see other than Joy. hope an
+, blessedness depicted on the faces
these teachers. This was to the write
the strongest confirmation that they ha
9 not mistaken their calling.
: a school Of small children in the pal
9 would have been expected to do bl
u little more than learn the alphabet, III
the primer and spelling book and pc
9 haps make some show of marks on Il
slate. calling it writing. But it is vast
o different in these schools? When Il
q question was asked, whet do you teacf
. it would have been far more sppropria
TO ask, what do you not teach? Lal
= gnsge seen in reading and senten
: making, subject and predicate, non
. singular and plural, numbers as high
:. as multiplication. aud writing W.
formed and readable letters, and besid
= these common branches these feache
= t,intermeddle with ell knowledge
Y These schools are military schools I
~ military drill. 1t took US bach to 'b,
lum" days, as the American flag was p
into the hands of loyal lads-loysl to I
= stars and stripes. Then the march b
10 gan end the music with the march Bal
by the entire marching force the ia
to the words, "Rslly Round the 81
Boye" aud when these words were end
the tune to the words followed viii
was rendered with q will "John Brow,
u body lies Wondering in the grave, VIII
as we are marching on" We could hare
suppress o good old fashioned che
We were obliged to give vent to {
patriotism which this exercise inspir
in q speech on the old flag in the days
~ the war.
Aided TO this military drill thu
& teachers give instruction in geomet
= not by drawing the figures on the sa,
as did q famous mathematician in ole
- times, bsfore the days Of paper, sla
and black boards, but the figures b
were made in their contour by WOOD
EfH naus shea M b ar,s pepu Wnndar ~